"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
(I realise)
All I want
All I need
Always lies just out of reach
I've been coming up empty
(I realise)
I ran as fast as I can run
I pushed as hard as anyone
But still there's nothing for me
(And I want)
I've tried as hard as I can
(And I need)
I've taken all I can stand
(And I fall)
But I am running a race
Against myself
Against myself, yeah
(I realise)
Running out, struggle on
And my sorrow is my song
My whole world is half parted
(I realise)
For my pain I have none
After all is said and done
Now I'm back where I started
(And I want)
I've gone as far as I can
(And I need)
I've taken all I can stand
(And I fall)
But I am running a race
Against myself
Against myself, yeah
(And I want)
I've tried as hard as I can
(And I need)
I've taken all I can stand
(And I fall)
But I am losing the race
Against myself
Against myself, yeah
Against myself
All I want
All I need
Always lies just out of reach
I've been coming up empty
(I realise)
I ran as fast as I can run
I pushed as hard as anyone
But still there's nothing for me
(And I want)
I've tried as hard as I can
(And I need)
I've taken all I can stand
(And I fall)
But I am running a race
Against myself
Against myself, yeah
(I realise)
Running out, struggle on
And my sorrow is my song
My whole world is half parted
(I realise)
For my pain I have none
After all is said and done
Now I'm back where I started
(And I want)
I've gone as far as I can
(And I need)
I've taken all I can stand
(And I fall)
But I am running a race
Against myself
Against myself, yeah
(And I want)
I've tried as hard as I can
(And I need)
I've taken all I can stand
(And I fall)
But I am losing the race
Against myself
Against myself, yeah
Against myself
Lyrics submitted by Shmeeper
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I agree with said posts. I just wanted to say that there is one minor lyrical error.
It's
"my whole world is half-hearted" not half parted